One of Bay of Plenty Rugby’s most loyal lieutenants, will be missing from the close quarter action of the Steamers ITM Cup campaign this season.

It is with deep disappointment, that the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union has accepted the resignation of Steamers Assistant Coach Steve Miln, as he leaves the Union to pursue new endeavors in his life.

Steve and his family have purchased a dairy farm, and in true Steve Miln style he said “I came to the conclusion if I couldn’t offer Bay of Plenty Rugby one hundred and ten per cent commitment, I should pass the baton to someone else”.

Thirty something games for Bay of Plenty, was followed by a long stint in Japan, before the former Mount Maunganui club player returned home to the Bay in 2005.

In 2007, the then Bay of Plenty Coach Kevin Schuler offered Steve the Steamers Assistant Coaches role. Steve said “one of the highlights working with Kevin, was winning the first five games in 2008 after a run of poor results in the previous season”.

When Steve returned home in 2005, he became a technical adviser to Sean Horan, who coached Mount Maunganui to the 2005 Baywide Premiership. The friendship and mutual respect was reunited in 2009, with the appointment of Sean Horan as the Steamers Head Coach.

During the past two seasons, Sean and Steve along with the rest of the strong Steamers coaching and management team, have made the Steamers genuine ITM Cup contenders.

Steve said “the Steamers have thrived on a unique Bay of Plenty team culture in my time with the side”. “The highlights of my time with the Bay team, has been to see the development of players such as Colin Bourke, Tanerau Latimer, Mike Delaney and Phil Burliegh into senior team players, who lead from the front out on the field of play”.

“ITM Cup Rugby is about having a Mental Edge on the opposition, and I believe that the current crop of Steamers have become battle hardened, and have the potential to be real contenders for the ITM Cup Title this season”

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union CEO Mike Rogers, who has worked with Steve at the BOP Union for four seasons said, “That the departure of Steve Miln is going to leave some big boots to fill”. “Few people that I have met in sport, have the passion for the game or the fervor for Bay of Plenty Rugby that Steve possess. BayProud sums up in one word, the commitment Steve Miln has had to the Steamers and Bay of Plenty Rugby”.